Immigrants' Rights
Barbara v. Donald J. Trump
President Trump is attempting to undermine the promise of birthright citizenship to children born on U.S. soil. But the ACLU and partners are fighting to protect the rights of citizens that are plainly stated in the Constitution, federal statute, and reaffirmed by the Supreme Court for more than a century. We’re arguing against the Trump administration in the Supreme Court and are confident we will win.
Status: Ongoing
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jan 2022
Immigrants' Rights
Garland v. Gonzalez
Whether the Immigration and Nationality Act requires a bond hearing for immigrants subject to prolonged detention while seeking protection in the U.S. from persecution or torture.
U.S. Supreme Court
Aug 2021
Immigrants' Rights
Innovation Law Lab v. Wolf
The American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Center for Gender & Refugee Studies filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s new policy forcing asylum seekers to return to Mexico and remain there while their cases are considered.
U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2020
Immigrants' Rights
Department of Homeland Security v. Vijayakumar Thuraissigiam
Whether immigrants are entitled to seek judicial review of their “expedited removal” orders in federal court.
U.S. Supreme Court
Jan 2020
Immigrants' Rights
International Refugee Assistance Project v. Trump
The American Civil Liberties Union and other partner organizations filed a federal lawsuit challenging President Trump’s Muslim ban executive order, charging it violates the Constitution — including the First Amendment’s prohibition of government establishment of religion and the Fifth Amendment’s guarantees of equal treatment under the law — and federal laws.
U.S. Supreme Court
Mar 2019
Immigrants' Rights
Nielsen v. Preap
Whether the government can require that certain people are detained for the duration of their deportation proceedings — without a hearing — because they have past criminal records.
Court Case
May 2018
Immigrants' Rights
Colotl v. Kelly
UPDATE 5/25/18: The Department of Homeland Security has agreed to renew Jessica Colotl’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and work permit to resolve a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Georgia, and Kuck Baxter Immigration in May 2017 against DHS for arbitrarily terminating Jessica’s DACA and rejecting her renewal application.
Indiana
Oct 2016
Immigrants' Rights
National Security
Exodus Refugee Immigration, Inc. v. Mike Pence, et al
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Indiana, on behalf of Exodus Refugee Immigration, filed suit against Governor Mike Pence and the secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration to stop attempts to suspend resettlement of Syrian refugees, claiming the governor’s actions violate the United States Constitution and federal law.
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194 Immigrants' Rights Cases
Iowa
May 2024
Immigrants' Rights
Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice v. Bird
Civil rights groups filed a federal lawsuit to block SF 2340, one of the worst, most far-reaching immigration laws ever passed in the state of Iowa. The measure conflicts with existing federal law and will have a number of dramatic consequences for Iowans. It creates new crimes for anyone in Iowa, including a child, who has reentered the country after being deported, even if that person is now authorized to be in the U.S.
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Iowa
May 2024
Immigrants' Rights
Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice v. Bird
Civil rights groups filed a federal lawsuit to block SF 2340, one of the worst, most far-reaching immigration laws ever passed in the state of Iowa. The measure conflicts with existing federal law and will have a number of dramatic consequences for Iowans. It creates new crimes for anyone in Iowa, including a child, who has reentered the country after being deported, even if that person is now authorized to be in the U.S.
Court Case
Jul 2023
Immigrants' Rights
American Civil Liberties Union v. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
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Court Case
Jul 2023
Immigrants' Rights
American Civil Liberties Union v. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Supreme Court
May 2023
Immigrants' Rights
Huisha-Huisha v. Mayorkas
Under Title 42, the federal government invoked the COVID pandemic to bar migrants from entering the country without an opportunity to seek asylum. The Trump administration originally invoked Title 42, but it was continued by the Biden administration. This suit challenged the legality of barring refugees from asylum based on Title 42.
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U.S. Supreme Court
May 2023
Immigrants' Rights
Huisha-Huisha v. Mayorkas
Under Title 42, the federal government invoked the COVID pandemic to bar migrants from entering the country without an opportunity to seek asylum. The Trump administration originally invoked Title 42, but it was continued by the Biden administration. This suit challenged the legality of barring refugees from asylum based on Title 42.
Court Case
Mar 2023
Immigrants' Rights
Brooks v. Woods
The American Civil Liberties Union, along with the ACLU of Florida, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, filed a federal lawsuit on Jan. 20, 2022, on behalf of Neville Brooks, a legal permanent resident from Jamaica who was detained by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) on false suspicion of being in the U.S. unlawfully.
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Court Case
Mar 2023
Immigrants' Rights
Brooks v. Woods
The American Civil Liberties Union, along with the ACLU of Florida, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, filed a federal lawsuit on Jan. 20, 2022, on behalf of Neville Brooks, a legal permanent resident from Jamaica who was detained by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) on false suspicion of being in the U.S. unlawfully.
U.S. Supreme Court
Feb 2023
Immigrants' Rights
United States v. Texas
Texas and other states are challenging ICE’s enforcement priorities, which direct agents to focus their arrests and deportations on immigrants with particular immigration law violations, such as those with criminal convictions. The Court will decide whether the states can bring these types of challenges, and if so, whether ICE’s priorities are legal.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Feb 2023
Immigrants' Rights
United States v. Texas
Texas and other states are challenging ICE’s enforcement priorities, which direct agents to focus their arrests and deportations on immigrants with particular immigration law violations, such as those with criminal convictions. The Court will decide whether the states can bring these types of challenges, and if so, whether ICE’s priorities are legal.